Bus of illegal immigrants heads to Nashville with motto 'No papers, no fear'

A bus full of three dozen undocumented immigrants — displaying their illegal status for all to see — is set to stop in Nashville on Thursday to raise awareness of immigration politics.

The “UndocuBus,” as organizers call it, will be at a public rally Thursday near the Super Mercado La Reyna #2 at 3761 Nolensville Pike in Nashville from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The group’s motto: “No papers, no fear.”

Advertising for Thursday’s event is virtually nonexistent, but supporters are beginning to spread the word via Facebook. The group includes six undocumented immigrants from Tennessee.

“The Hispanic community in Tennessee is just so ruled by this fear of getting deported, and saying that you’re undocumented is so unheard of where I come from,” said 19-year-old Alejandro Guivar of Knoxville. “I want to wake people up and tell them that if they don’t come out of the shadows and fight for what they deserve, then nobody’s going to give it to them.”

The group — which has garnered attention from a range of national media outlets — began its “Ride for Justice” across the United States in Arizona, home of a controversial so-called crackdown law on illegal immigrants. Its plan is to arrive in Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 3, in time to stage events as the 2012 Democratic National Convention commences.

Guivar, who has joined the “UndocuBus” cause in Tennessee, is in the process of deportation proceedings via the federal Secure Communities program after being detained last year following a misdemeanor. He spent a month at a detention center in Louisiana, and will learn his fate next spring.

“I don’t want to see any other 18-year-old ever have to go through that,” he said.

In recent days, the “UndocuBus” has made its way to the South, unfriendly territory for immigrant causes. The group is in Memphis Wednesday. From there, the route heads east on Interstate 40 to Nashville. Here, they will be arriving in a city with its own debates on illegal immigration.

The Tennessee Supreme Court is currently weighing whether Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall has the legal authority under the Metro charter to enforce 287(g) — a federal immigrant detention program that Davidson County’s immigrant community has long criticized. The Metro Council will vote in October whether to renew the sheriff’s 287(g) agreement with the federal government.

A year ago, a federal judge awarded an undocumented mother in Nashville named Juana Villegas $200,000 after ruling her rights were violated when sheriff’s deputies shackled her before and after she gave birth. Villegas had been arrested for a routine traffic ticket and held in jail under 287(g) provisions.

Metro has appealed the Villegas decision in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Both parties are waiting on the court’s decision.

Karla Chavez, a youth organizer for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, pointed to President Barack Obama’s recent executive action to allow some illegal immigrants who arrived in the United States as children to remain here without the threat of deportation. “But where is the relief for our mothers and fathers?” she asked.

“The immigrants that get on this bus are telling the country that our families and communities deserve to stay together, that undocumented immigrants are part of our community, and that the immigrant community is done being scared,” Chavez said.

42 Comments on this post:

no fear. dean and his minions [stooges?] will raise property taxes to whatever levels need be to accommodate the illegals.

By:gid on 8/14/12 at 1:50

I cant get past the word ILLEGAL. Illegal = against the law, should not be here, not a citizen, should not be granted any rights that a USA Citizen has earned.

By:slzy on 8/14/12 at 1:53

are cooper and dean hosting a free luncheon for them?

By:Jughead on 8/14/12 at 2:20

Dean is fine with illegals as long as they don't live in his Belle Meade neighborhood.

By:FCappas on 8/14/12 at 3:01

You are welcome here (any country or race) but you have to get the proper documentation first - it is the law. We have to obey the laws - they are there for a reason.
Illegal = not legal = not allowed = can't do that = no, can't do
Go thru the established process, get the proper paperwork done and then come back and have a drink on me.

By:FCappas on 8/14/12 at 3:07

The police will be near the Super Mercado La Reyna #2 at 3761 Nolensville Pike in Nashville from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m on Thursday for free rides.

By:SFPredsFan on 8/14/12 at 3:47

I heard ICE will be there to round up illegal aliens. I'd bet these idiots flaunting our laws in Americans faces didn't dare go to Maricopa County to rally. Sheriff Joe would've lock them up and they'd be sitting in his tent city jails.

By:yogiman on 8/14/12 at 4:24

Sorry, That's Maricopa County AZ. This is Davidson County TN. There's a vast difference between the police operations of those counties.

But give the Davidson County deputies credit, they can only operate by their orders.

By:yogiman on 8/14/12 at 4:30

People from all over the world have come to the US to gain citizenship legally and have went through many hard times to succeed. When our government welcomes illegal aliens, they have just become a member of the illegal regime. An election should be called to get them out of office, and with no retirement.

Political offices shouldn't have a retirement program to begin with when civilian employees must spend so many years (usually 20) to earn retirement from a company.

By:fmgoodlow on 8/14/12 at 4:48

OK call me crazy but I don't get it. These people are going to come in here on a bus shouting for all the world to hear they are UNDOCUMENTED meaning they are here ILLEGALLY and dare us to arrest them after they clearly state they are here ILLEGALLY because we are racial profilling? That's not racial profilling you just told us you are here ILLEGALLY. You people have a lot of nerve demanding justice from a country you're not even suppose to BE IN. But when it comes to your country and we scream OH THEY ARE RACIAL PROFILLING they laugh in our faces and throw us in the slammer. Where is the justice there? Go back to where you came from or come back legally if you love our country so much don't upset the REAL CITIZENS of the US. Because once you do your going to be begging to get the heck out of here.

By:SFPredsFan on 8/14/12 at 5:12

@fmgoodlow....That's right. These illegal aliens crawled through the border fence or swam the Rio Grande then openly state they're here illegally and DEMAND citizenship. I don't know which is worse. The illegal aliens or the people that want to GIVE them citizenship. They're both scum in my view.

By:BASPUD on 8/14/12 at 6:21

what does he mean they need to get what they deserve the only thing they deserve is a free trip to the jail then deported it,s time for the american people that care about this country to and say hell no to this kind of crap american people live by the law so why are these people not being put in jail

By:shoes1 on 8/14/12 at 8:19

I sympathize with the plight of a Mexican man or woman who sees the opportunity to better take care of his family by working in the USA. On the other hand, having laws on the books that we don't enforce is asinine. Obviously this is a multifaceted problem and the solution will likely be multifaceted as well. Lets buy 50% of what we buy made in China.....made in Mexico. Everybody will pay a little more for the products manufactured by $3.00/hr Mexicans living in Mexico.... And I guesstimate 80% or more of the Mexicans in the USA, legal and nonlegal, would exit in the proverbial "giant sucking sound". Don't believe me.....ask a Mexican illegal. Americans would then be hired here for the jobs that Mexicans vacated but again costs would increase as prideful Americans would demand higher pay. Additionally or otherwise... why not document all persons living in the USA and charge non-citizens a 15% tax for the privilege of living and working here.

By:waycool1 on 8/14/12 at 9:56

I sympathize with the law abiding 'legal' citizens that have to pay for these leeches.

By:willtw on 8/14/12 at 11:03

If this were Mexico, anyone caught illegal there would go straight to jail!

By:Ask01 on 8/15/12 at 1:17

I suggest, once again, we arrest not only those breaking the law by their very presence, hence the term, confusing for so many, ILLEGAL alien, but in addition, arrest, fine, and confiscate the property, of those providing jobs, and therefore incentive for the illegals.

Arresting, fining, and confiscating the businesses (to be sold to someone who will not violate federal law) of a few businessmen would probably be sufficient to quickly dry up the employment options.

Those championing the illegal population would have little reason to complain, as the primary focus would not be the illegals, but their law breaking employers.

I would derive great satisfaction seeing law breaking business owners in jail. Better to spend our resources on our own people instead of illegal aliens.

By:robowang on 8/15/12 at 8:42

WHY isn't ICE arresting these people?
They are not in a "Sanctuary", they are roaming free.
ARREST THEM!!
I am contacting MY State Reps today, and Rep Steve King, too.

By:frodo on 8/15/12 at 8:57

I plan to invade a house in Belle Meade. Then tell the press that my children and I deserve to be together.

By:govskeptic on 8/15/12 at 9:05

They are in a Sanctuary anywhere in this country they wish to be. Of
course, the Southern 20 states or so is carrying most of the burden
of cost, care and housing, and last but not least Jailing. You can
thank the 2 most obliging groups for the least protected immigration
laws in the world: 1. The American and Hispanic Chambers of
Commerce, 2. Those profit and non-profits that want to take care
of the world's disadvantaged, sick, elderly, and many lazies at
your expense, since money is no problem now or the future in this country!

By:budlight on 8/15/12 at 9:28

Frodo, I am with you. Let's invade a home in Belle Meade and see how long it takes to put us in jail? Instantly.

I am from German immigrants. We came here legally. I don't mind immigrants, but I want to know who they are and what, if any, diseases they are bringing into the country. That is just common sense. But, oh I forgot. The idiots who allow this behavior have no common sense.

By:Specter47 on 8/15/12 at 10:55

Let's see if the Feds have the cojones to face these invaders of our country. I doubt it. I would like to be suprised.

By:pswindle on 8/15/12 at 11:00

The law does not work this way. Thye need to go back and re-read what the law says. You have to meet certain rules to stay in this country. They fully misunderstood, but they will soon find out when they get off thier bus and say, "I'm here."

By:Burgirl on 8/15/12 at 11:00

HELLO??
We were all imigrants other than the indians. We all did what we needed to do to become citizens of this country. To flaunt being an illegal here is outrageous, disrespectful, and disgusting. Go back where you came from. If you want in this country so much, do it legally. Don't expect the 'legal' people of this country to feel sorry for you. Grow up. Do what is right-as we all did.

By:Left-of-Local on 8/15/12 at 11:05

Wow, Garrison. Excellent bait for the raving conservative lunatics with no understanding of the issue surrounding out-of-the-shadows efforts. Have you ever actually DONE a study on how much of the City Paper readership also swears by Fox News?

By:budlight on 8/15/12 at 11:50

What is an "out-of-the-shadows" effort, Left? Does that mean that the illegals are emboldened and empowered and enabled by the left to do at will what they want to do regardless of the law?

If not, what does it mean?

By:volstreet on 8/15/12 at 12:11

Jerry Z Yea Hello Border Patrol I'd like report a bus full of illegal( BEEEEEEEEEEEP)We're sorry all line are busy.The next availible agent will be with you @NOVEMBER 2012 !!!!!!!!!!!!

By:FaceBook:Emmett... on 8/15/12 at 4:04

In terms of simple costs, it is far, far cheaper to round them up and deport them. And that could be done by "executive order" of a new president. They are seriously overplaying a hand which depends entirely on ObaMao staying in the White House - and that is not likely to happen.

By:jackinnashville on 8/15/12 at 9:45

I salute all those brave people who risk life and limb coming to the U.S. to support their families back home. To all undocumented immigrants on the bus, thank you for bringing attention to the immorality of immigration laws that have created a pariah caste denied many of the basic civil rights that the rest of us enjoy.

By:Ask01 on 8/16/12 at 4:43

Someone please explain to me what is so difficult to understand about the word "illegal," especially when used in conjunction with other words, such as "illegal alien?"

The concept is not on a par with quantum mechanics or opening a child proof medicine bottle.

Simply stated, illegal defines an act which is contrary to the law. In this case, being in the country illegally, violating all manner of ordinances.

There are in place avenueallowing foreign nationals to come to this country lawfully.

Why don't we just throw open the doors to allow everyone to enjoy the American dream? Simply put, we do, contrary to popular misconception, possess finite resources. A glut of excess people will eventually reduce everyone's slice of the pie to less than that which immigrants tried to escape.

I have no problem with immigrants. My wife is an immigrant. We, however, followed the rules and brought her here legally. She works, making more money than me, I might add, pays taxes, and is a productive member of society.

I do take issue, however, with those coming here, trying to bypass the legal avenues and jumping in front of those waiting to legally enter the country.

So, please explain why some keep equating "illegal aliens" with "legal immigrants" when the two are complete opposites.

I'll check when I come home from work to see if a competent, satisfactory, and plausible explanation has been posted without name calling, profanity, and spinning the issue like a ball of twine.

By:parnell3rd on 8/16/12 at 6:54

Intercept and redirect the bus straight to jail, do not pass go and collect any money.
How would illegals feel if we let 3 dozen murderer's out of prison to go on tour through their neighborhood's?

By:budlight on 8/16/12 at 7:26

jackinnashville on 8/15/12 at 9:45
I salute all those brave people who risk life and limb coming to the U.S. to support their families back home. To all undocumented immigrants on the bus, thank you for bringing attention to the immorality of immigration laws that have created a pariah caste denied many of the basic civil rights that the rest of us enjoy.

jack, how about we all come over to your house and just let ourselves in? It's immoral for you to have a home and we can't share in that.

Do you honestly not see how stupid your comments are? All borders need to have boundaries. That is why they are called borders. How about if we let Russia just come over and camp out in the white house? Or the Capitol? Oh that's right. They are already here.

You are nuts. To all undocumented immigrants on the bus who are snubbing their nose at US laws and giving US legal citizens the finger, I say DEPORT now!

By:BEOWULF on 8/16/12 at 8:06

BEOWULF: Isn't it quite noteworthy that this "in your face" boldness by massive numbers of federal law breakers coincides with our federal law breaking "leader's" EXCUTIVE ORDER to permit illegals to pay a fee to get work permits and escape deportation? Talk about "IN YOUR FACE"! This improperly documented official RULES this country by invoking exec. order in order to bypass the spineless House and Senate that could provide a stumbling block for his assault on America - anyone remember Hitler, Marx, Stalin, ...!
On election day remember: As one walks thtough the American Meadow, encountering an older seasoned deposit isn't as dangerous footing as ecountering a fresh, oleaginous one that easily puts one on his back!

By:Jughead on 8/16/12 at 8:23

I guess the Rule of Law is a thing of the past. Does that mean it is o.k. to wait at the state line with clubs?

By:Jughead on 8/16/12 at 8:24

Immigrate lawfully. Otherwise, stay the hell out.

By:Left-of-Local on 8/16/12 at 9:02

Out of the shadows = coming clean and entering the legal immigration process. And those who are willing to do this, should be able to, and be held to back-taxes, etc. in the process. It is the ONLY way to fix this without becoming the kind of monsters we have so often gone to war to depose.

Or we can just take all the redneck advice herein, and be even more shamed in the world.

By:slacker on 8/16/12 at 9:45

Sounds like they'll be pissed off if they're not arrested. Nashville is fertile ground for illegals lawsuits. Hopefully they'll be ignored, and make it to the Democrat Convention, and show their arse there. That might sway some undecided voters, to vote for the Romney ticket.

By:Jughead on 8/16/12 at 11:25

Left-of-local: I do not give a rats butt what some snarky socialist from France thinks about me. Or, some wanker from London who lives on the dole.

By:mg357 on 8/16/12 at 11:51

mg357...One thing for certain, Governor Jan Brewer has called Obama's bluff as far as Arizona laws. She is deadly serious about illegals in her state and the legal citizens she has sworn to protect. My question is why these folks haven't applied for citizenship if they want to live in this country instead of squatting where they have no legal right to be in the first place.............mg

By:pswindle on 8/16/12 at 11:53

They have to follow the rules, and just coming in a bus will not cut it. They have to be here as a baby or born here and can't be over a certain age, and have over $400. This will cull most.

By:MetalMan on 8/18/12 at 8:17

I'll bet you could smell the bus long before you could see it!

By:Brittanicus on 8/19/12 at 5:41

Seriously though, are we as Americans expected forever to keep subsidizing pregnant females with 400.000 unborn babies smuggled annually, with hordes of indigent people who slip past borders or the other 40 percent who fly into America never to return home? It is so easy for the both parties to remain unconcerned or staying deliberately ignorant about this silent invasion. Do we as Americans have to further forfeit our lifestyles, as we continually pay a annual bloated taxes to pay for every destitute foreigners who finds their way here? These are unfunded state mandates that keep on growing in hundreds of billions of dollars. Whether its Governor Brewer in Arizona or another state politician elsewhere, this drain on state treasuries must stop?

THE DREAM CHILDREN ARE HERE TO STAY, BUT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT MUST BE ZERO TOLERANCE IN THE FUTURE. BUT REMEMBER THE PARENTS WHO ILLEGALLY BROUGHT THEM HERE HAVE NO DEFENSE AND STILL CAN BE REMOVED? UNQUESTIONABLY THE PARENTS ARE OPEN TO DEPORTATION, ONCE THE PHYSICAL ADDRESS OF THE ‘DREAMER’ IS REVEALED. The numbers of illegal aliens has risen through decades from the time of the first mass amnesty of 1968. From that time businesses have hounded politicians, to leave well alone and now illegal immigrants seem to have more influence than citizens? If these people came here with no expectations of living off the taxpayer, things might be more positive? But alas, that is not the case.

For the high pressure corporate entities, its financial gain on a grand scale as the wealthy do not live in the neighborhoods, which are literary toilets for the poor and the uneducated foreigners. So they can laugh at us mere taxpayers, who have to deal with the rampant crime or just the deterioration of our communities. For the wealthy business owners it is just pure greed of discount illegal workers. These types of people are not bothered, as they are not paying out enormous taxes, to support the list of welfare handouts.

I used to be a predictable Democrat, but I realize now that a large majority of their voters are out for what they can get? The freeloader--those who feel it’s the responsibility of the government to keep them and support their drug, drink and tobacco habits. The people who are medically infirm or mentally sick are the ones who are hurting, because government support has been cut way down, to pay the schooling, health care treatment for illegal aliens, which is our burden to tolerate? Over the years illegal immigration has become a huge unmovable yoke around the necks of every taxpayer and it’s not going away.

Presumably not under the prospective presidency of MITT ROMNEY or President Obama will the situation change for the American people, but with an understanding of previous issue debates and discussions of VP Paul Ryan, he seems to have the attributes moderate conservative that can really upset his Democrat betrayers of the U.S. Constitution. It is doubtful to me that Mitt Romney has a TEA PARTY ideology, but his Vice President Ryan has been deemed one of the selected.

Immigration and under Obama’s Justice Department all I can see for the future, is more unrealistic backdoor amnesties through executive orders. More money for taxpayers to keep filling the state treasuries to pay for unfunded mandates for illegal immigrant support, just as matching with the ObamaCare, so everybody is forcibly committed to pay for the parasites who find it easy to live of the working public.

Whereas I was originally a democrat in a Republican family, but all I have ever seen from both political parties, is nothing more that the same agenda’s with never ever any different in the direction they are going. That’s why I joined the PEOPLE’S TEA PARTY and looking for change; change like America has never seen before. That’s why we have a maximum effort on behalf of advocates to intrude on the Republican Party to see a new direction. Issues like drilling for oil, locating natural gas and reopening the coal mines that Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency stringent regulations to not approve any permits. The green project pushed by fanatical environmentalists is pushing for windmills, solar are not enough at this time, when America desperately needs energy to run industry and our homes. Can you believe Obama actually wants to give even MORE money to the green industry—despite wasting billions in taxpayer dollars to fund now BANKRUPT solar companies? Can you say Solyndra? Remember that Obama donors had ties to those companies. Corruption and cronyism is running rampant at the taxpayers’ expense?

Both parties are guilty of allowing OPEC and other countries to control our oil needs, when we have immense deposits off the coast and inland. Shipping goods is costing truckers their jobs, because Obama’s EPA prefers to stick us with foreign oil and the costs that come with it. Why is the EPA not turning off the Ethanol tap, when we need the corn to feed people and animals?

Turn the tide of an unceasing Socialist experiment played by the Democrats and Liberals, with an incredulous plan that Obama is sure to enact if has a new coronation next year. The Tea Party no longer has the luxury of merely trying to win, it is now “do or die” for our nation. The struggle is between a socialist schedule and the endurance of the Free-Enterprise Republic. Decide now to join us in our fight…or be predestined to live in a country that is shackled by socialism. I’m afraid under Obama’s agenda there is no middle ground. To be perfectly clear, if the Tea Party falters now…if we lay back or slack off then America we know will be gone forever. The TEA PARTY will let free trade succeed, but will sanction countries as China who are manipulating their coinage and cheating us. We cannot trust the Democrats who remain deliberately unconcerned with non-citizens voting. Both parties refuse to enact mandatory E-Verify (H.R. 2885), to expel illegal aliens from businesses, and a Birthright Citizenship law (H.R. 140), that allows a projected 400.000 babies a year who gain citizenship, without a parent holding U.S. citizenship status. With an unmatched nationwide recession, the Democrats and Republicans have done nothing to reduce the 16 trillion deficits, that this country is now being financially asphyxiated.

American citizens have witnessed firsthand the destructive power of Obama’s socialist agenda and seen, with their own eyes, the destruction that radical Marxist advocate Sal D. Alinsky tactics have brought. Surf his name on the Internet and see the influence of people as this individual and Socialist George Soros. Instead of Democrats following immigration laws as a policy issue they would rather stalk the state of Arizona, because they are the epicenter of illegal immigrants and migrants fleecing that state’s welfare coffers. Anybody who dares to go against the ultra left target is relentlessly pursued, such as Sheriff Joe Arpaio, or former Rep. Russell Pierce. Incidentally—this country is a nation of laws, but since Obama has been in power they have been ignored.

We must use every asset, every tool, every means possible to stop the evil agenda in Washington and replace it with men of courage and vision, those dedicated to freedom, liberty and justice for all. We must do it NOW. Issues as the Tax code, which has been manipulated for the cronies in both parties. We need a tax equally for everybody and not just for corporate friends and the wealthy insiders of Wall Street, but for Main Street. The Tea Party is revolted by Obama’s nauseating lies and horrible claims about presidential candidate Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan. the campaign continues, it becomes painfully clear the office of the President of the United States of America has been mired by the un-American oratory and persistent mud-slinging coming from the party of the donkey. The Liberal mainstream Media protects their love child. In recent days, the Obama Regime has attacked the evolution of the TEA PARTY—attacking Mitt Romney—Paul Ryan—U.S. Constitution-- Conservative form of government--America’s system of checks and balances (no more Congressional approval needed for presidential appointees)--Freedom, guns and the American way. But the truth of the matter is clear, open and summarizing. While Obama strains to accuse Romney of nasty and contemptible acts, the people of the Tea Party know better!

Obama has sanctioned Eric Holder’s and his minions “Gun Walking - Fast and Furious” which killed Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. Then loving mothers and fathers, innocent grandparents and children in Mexico have been massacred by our weapons. Then U.S. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada has endorsed in the Senate that the IRS child tax credit for illegal aliens costing 5 billion annually should continue, even if the children live outside the U.S. The Tea Party stands for conservative values across the board and will NOT back down even when assumed Conservative Republicans demand the Tea Party shut-up and sit down? American people must stand up and be counted or we be leaning towards a Socialist nation, with a massive bureaucratic uncontrollable government that shadows us all, with handouts for everybody. Only the voters, the destitute and the freeloaders are in the Democratic pockets, who have always wanted ‘Something for nothing.’ It is the same with the illegal aliens who have poured through fences, protesting for equal rights once here, brandishing foreign flags, insisting for the same rights as citizens-legal residents and now being given food stamps for their votes, even though they scorned our immigration laws to come here.

Do you know that in the November 2010 mid-term election, less than 5 percent of military voters were able to cast an absentee vote that counted, according to data released by the federal Election Assistance Commission? Well sure, because they tend to vote Republican and NOT in Obama’s favor. Our own military men and women ROBBED of their vote. What’s more as part of the ROB THE VOTE plan: 2 million DEAD people are included in U.S. voter rolls. Washington is viciously fighting Florida’s challenge to clean up and purge voter records of illegal’s, deceased, non-citizens and those not eligible to vote. Lax controls at voter polls; a national campaign such as ACORN soliciting foreigners to register to vote and a strong opposition to the use of photo ID at voter polls by the Washington Czars. JOIN THE TEA PARTY AND END THIS MOVEMENT TOWARDS SOCIALISM AS THE COUNTRY OF GREECE?

It might alarm you to know that there are some gaping holes in Barack Obama’s citizenship. Other than say decide for yourself, if the evidence supplied equals a response from the House of Representative and Senate. Just check out the relevant information at any TEA PARTY website or go directly to TEA PARTY DOT ORG. So much intelligence is being concealed by the Democrats and the mainstream press to this oppressive travesty. Learn even more intelligence at NumbersUSA and other pro sovereignty organizations.